LIL KIM! Kimberly Denise Jones(born July 11, 1975), better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper, songwriter and actress who was part of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A. Jones was born and raised in Brooklyn, living much of her adolescent life on the streets after being expelled from home. Influenced by fellow rapper The Notorious B.I.G., who she was rumored to have an ongoing affair with after his marriage, she began her music career in 1995 with the group Junior M.A.F.I.A., whose debut album Conspiracy generated three hit singles. In late 1996, her solo debut album Hard Core was released. Hard Core was certified double platinum and spawned chart-topping hits "No Time" and "Crush on You". Her following albums, The Notorious K.I.M. (2000) and La Bella Mafia (2003), were also largely successful.
In 2005, Lil' Kim served a yearlong prison sentence for lying to a jury about her friends' involvement in a shooting four years earlier. During her incarceration, her fourth album The Naked Truth was released. It hit Billboard harder than expected, coming in at number 6. Lil' Kim returned to the public spotlight in 2009 with an appearance on Dancing with the Stars.
DiscographyAlbums
Hard Core (1996)
The Notorious K.I.M. (2000)
La Bella Mafia (2003)
The Naked Truth (2005)
Junior M.A.F.I.A. In 1994, B.I.G. was instrumental in introducing and promoting the Brooklyn based group, Junior M.A.F.I.A., which included Lil' Kim. The group's first and only album was titled Conspiracy. Three hit singles came from Conspiracy: "Player's Anthem" (peaked at #7 on the Billboard [Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs] chart and #2 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart), "I Need You Tonight" (#43 R&B, #12 Rap), and "Get Money" (#17 on the Billboard Hot 100, #4 R&B, #2 Rap). The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified Conspiracy Gold on December 6, 1995, marking sales of 500,000 units. "Player's Anthem" was Gold, and "Get Money" went Platinum (sales of a million units). Hard Core (1996) After a year with Junior M.A.F.I.A., Jones began a solo career by making guest performances on R&B albums and recording her debut album, Hard Core, which was released in November 1996. The album peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Hard Core was RIAA-certified double platinum on March 14, 2001 after having been certified Gold on January 6, 1997 and Platinum on June 3, 1997. The album's lead single "No Time", a duet with Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs (who would later change his stage name to "P. Diddy" and then "Diddy"), reached the top spot of the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The Notorious K.I.M. (2000) From 1998 to 2000, Kim continued her road to stardom under the management of B.I.G.'s best friend, Damion "D-Roc" Butler's "Roc Management", touring and modeling for various fashion and pop culture companies including Candies, Versace, Iceberg, and Baby Phat. In 1998, she performed in P.Diddy's "No Way Out" tour. In the same year, she launched her own label Queen Bee Entertainment and even though she hadn't had an album of her own released, she was seen on dozens of remixes and guest appearances on other artist's records. On June 27, 2000, Kim released her second album The Notorious K.I.M. The album marked a new image and revamped look for the rapper. Despite the limited success of its singles, the album reached #4 on the Billboard 200, and #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart selling 209,000 copies in its opening week. It was certified platinum by the RIAA.[3] It was on this LP that the well-known hip-hop feud between Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown blossmed.
In 2001, Lil' Kim teamed up with Christina Aguilera, Pink, and Mya to remake "Lady Marmalade", which was originally written about a bordella in New Orleans and performed by the group Labelle (which included diva Patti LaBelle) 25 years earlier. The song was recorded for the Moulin Rouge! film soundtrack, released in April 2001, and stayed #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks. The song also went to #1 in 50 countries around the world. This was a big accomplishment for female rap, as well as for Kim, who scored her first #1 Hot 100 hit and became the first female rapper in history to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. "Lady Marmalade" also garnered Kim her first Grammy Award. La Bella Mafia (2003) In 2003, Lil' Kim recorded a new entrance theme for then World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Women's Champion Trish Stratus entitled, "Time to Rock 'n Roll", which was used during broadcasts, until Stratus' retirement. The single was released on WWE Anthology, a compilation of entrance theme music to various professional wrestlers superstars.
On March 4, 2003, Kim released her third critically acclaimed album, La Bella Mafia. Highly rated (4.5 mics) by music magazine The Source, La Bella Mafia spawned the hit "The Jump Off" featuring Mr. Cheeks, which climbed to number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single "Magic Stick", feat. 50 Cent, hit #2 on the Hot 100 without a video ever being shot. La Bella Mafia debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200. Kim was nominated for five Source Awards The Naked Truth (2005) Kim released a fourth album, The Naked Truth, on September 27, 2005, while serving a federal prison sentence (see below). It earned her a 5 mic rating from The Source, making her the only female rapper to ever receive a 5 mic rating. The album debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200 charts, giving Kim her Third Top 10 debut on the charts. The Naked Truth didn't sell as well as her previous works, selling less than 400,000 copies. Kim has said that her jail sentence left her with no time to promote the project. There have been many rumors about a re-release of Truth but to no avail. Dancing With The Stars and the upcoming album (2009 - present) Lil' Kim appeared on the eighth season reality show Dancing with the Stars, which began airing on March 9, 2009. She was paired with professional dancer Derek Hough until the dance couple was eliminated on May 5, 2009, putting her at fifth place from all thirteen contestants that season. During the second week of the season, judge Len Goodman said that she "must have a bionic booty," a nickname that, like fellow judge Bruno Tonioli came due to her performance of the selected dance that evening.
Grammy Awards
1997: Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Ladies Night (Not Tonight remix)" (with Missy Elliott, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Da Brat, and Angie Martinez) (nominated)
2002: Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "Lady Marmalade" (WINNER)
2003: Best Female Rap Solo Performance for "Came Back for You" (nominated)
2003: Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "Can't Hold Us Down" (with Christina Aguilera) (nominated)
2003: Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Magic Stick" (with 50 Cent) (nominated)
2008: Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Let It Go" (with Keyshia Cole & Missy Elliott, ) (nominated)
MTV Video Music Awards
1998: Viewer's Choice for "All About The Benjamins" (with P. Diddy and others)
2001: Video of the Year for "Lady Marmalade"
2001: Best Video from a Film for "Lady Marmalade"
My VH1 Awards
2001: Favorite Video ("Lady Marmalade")
2001: Is It Hot In Here Or Is It Just My Video? ("Lady Marmalade")
Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards
1997: Best Video by a Female - Rap/R&B ("Crush On You")
1999: Best Video by a Female - Rap/R&B ("Not Tonight (remix)")
Source Awards
2003: Female Artist of the Year
2003: Female Single of the Year "The Jumpoff"
Teen Choice Awards
2001: Choice Song of the Summer ("Lady Marmalade")
MOBO Awards
2003: Most Stylish Artist of the Year
Radio Music Awards
2001: Song of the Year Top 40 Pop Radio-"Lady Marmalade"
TMF Awards-Belgium
2001: Video of The Year-"Lady Marmalade"
TMF Awards-Netherlands
2001: Video of The Year-"Lady Marmalade"
ALMA Awards
2002: Outstanding Song- Motion Picture Soundtrack "Lady Marmalade"
ASCAP Music Awards
2002: Song of the Year-"Lady Marmalade"
MTV Japan Awards
2002: Best Choreography "Lady Marmalade"
MVPA Video Awards
2002: Best Styling In A Video-"Lady Marmalade"
VIBE Awards
2005: Album of the Year The Naked Truth (nominated)
BET Awards
2006: Best Female Hip-Hop Artist (nominated)
2008: Best Song "Let It Go" (nominated)
2010: Best Female Hip-Hop Artist (nominated)
American Music Awards
2003: Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
2005: Best Female Hip-Hop Artist (nominated)
Kimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1975), better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper, songwriter and actress who was part of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A. Jones was born and raised in Brooklyn, living much of her adolescent life on the streets after being expelled from home. Influenced by fellow rapper The Notorious B.I.G., who she was rumored to have an ongoing affair with after his marriage, she began her music career in 1995 with the group Junior M.A.F.I.A., whose debut album Conspiracy generated three hit singles. In late 1996, her solo debut album Hard Core was released. Hard Core was certified double platinum and spawned chart-topping hits "No Time" and "Crush on You". Her following albums, The Notorious K.I.M. (2000) and La Bella Mafia (2003), were also largely successful.
In 2005, Lil' Kim served a yearlong prison sentence for lying to a jury about her friends' involvement in a shooting four years earlier. During her incarceration, her fourth album The Naked Truth was released. It hit Billboard harder than expected, coming in at number 6. Lil' Kim returned to the public spotlight in 2009 with an appearance on Dancing with the Stars.
Discography Albums
Junior M.A.F.I.A.
In 1994, B.I.G. was instrumental in introducing and promoting the Brooklyn based group, Junior M.A.F.I.A., which included Lil' Kim. The group's first and only album was titled Conspiracy. Three hit singles came from Conspiracy: "Player's Anthem" (peaked at #7 on the Billboard [Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs] chart and #2 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart), "I Need You Tonight" (#43 R&B, #12 Rap), and "Get Money" (#17 on the Billboard Hot 100, #4 R&B, #2 Rap). The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified Conspiracy Gold on December 6, 1995, marking sales of 500,000 units. "Player's Anthem" was Gold, and "Get Money" went Platinum (sales of a million units).
Hard Core (1996)
After a year with Junior M.A.F.I.A., Jones began a solo career by making guest performances on R&B albums and recording her debut album, Hard Core, which was released in November 1996. The album peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Hard Core was RIAA-certified double platinum on March 14, 2001 after having been certified Gold on January 6, 1997 and Platinum on June 3, 1997. The album's lead single "No Time", a duet with Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs (who would later change his stage name to "P. Diddy" and then "Diddy"), reached the top spot of the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA.
The Notorious K.I.M. (2000)
From 1998 to 2000, Kim continued her road to stardom under the management of B.I.G.'s best friend, Damion "D-Roc" Butler's "Roc Management", touring and modeling for various fashion and pop culture companies including Candies, Versace, Iceberg, and Baby Phat. In 1998, she performed in P.Diddy's "No Way Out" tour. In the same year, she launched her own label Queen Bee Entertainment and even though she hadn't had an album of her own released, she was seen on dozens of remixes and guest appearances on other artist's records. On June 27, 2000, Kim released her second album The Notorious K.I.M. The album marked a new image and revamped look for the rapper. Despite the limited success of its singles, the album reached #4 on the Billboard 200, and #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart selling 209,000 copies in its opening week. It was certified platinum by the RIAA.[3] It was on this LP that the well-known hip-hop feud between Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown blossmed.
In 2001, Lil' Kim teamed up with Christina Aguilera, Pink, and Mya to remake "Lady Marmalade", which was originally written about a bordella in New Orleans and performed by the group Labelle (which included diva Patti LaBelle) 25 years earlier. The song was recorded for the Moulin Rouge! film soundtrack, released in April 2001, and stayed #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks. The song also went to #1 in 50 countries around the world. This was a big accomplishment for female rap, as well as for Kim, who scored her first #1 Hot 100 hit and became the first female rapper in history to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. "Lady Marmalade" also garnered Kim her first Grammy Award.
La Bella Mafia (2003)
In 2003, Lil' Kim recorded a new entrance theme for then World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Women's Champion Trish Stratus entitled, "Time to Rock 'n Roll", which was used during broadcasts, until Stratus' retirement. The single was released on WWE Anthology, a compilation of entrance theme music to various professional wrestlers superstars.
On March 4, 2003, Kim released her third critically acclaimed album, La Bella Mafia. Highly rated (4.5 mics) by music magazine The Source, La Bella Mafia spawned the hit "The Jump Off" featuring Mr. Cheeks, which climbed to number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single "Magic Stick", feat. 50 Cent, hit #2 on the Hot 100 without a video ever being shot.
La Bella Mafia debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200. Kim was nominated for five Source Awards
The Naked Truth (2005)
Kim released a fourth album, The Naked Truth, on September 27, 2005, while serving a federal prison sentence (see below). It earned her a 5 mic rating from The Source, making her the only female rapper to ever receive a 5 mic rating. The album debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200 charts, giving Kim her Third Top 10 debut on the charts. The Naked Truth didn't sell as well as her previous works, selling less than 400,000 copies. Kim has said that her jail sentence left her with no time to promote the project. There have been many rumors about a re-release of Truth but to no avail.
Dancing With The Stars and the upcoming album (2009 - present)
Lil' Kim appeared on the eighth season reality show Dancing with the Stars, which began airing on March 9, 2009. She was paired with professional dancer Derek Hough until the dance couple was eliminated on May 5, 2009, putting her at fifth place from all thirteen contestants that season. During the second week of the season, judge Len Goodman said that she "must have a bionic booty," a nickname that, like fellow judge Bruno Tonioli came due to her performance of the selected dance that evening.
Grammy Awards
1997: Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Ladies Night (Not Tonight remix)" (with Missy Elliott, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Da Brat, and Angie Martinez) (nominated)
2002: Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "Lady Marmalade" (WINNER)
2003: Best Female Rap Solo Performance for "Came Back for You" (nominated)
2003: Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "Can't Hold Us Down" (with Christina Aguilera) (nominated)
2003: Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Magic Stick" (with 50 Cent) (nominated)
2008: Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Let It Go" (with Keyshia Cole & Missy Elliott, ) (nominated)
MTV Video Music Awards
1998: Viewer's Choice for "All About The Benjamins" (with P. Diddy and others)
2001: Video of the Year for "Lady Marmalade"
2001: Best Video from a Film for "Lady Marmalade"
My VH1 Awards
2001: Favorite Video ("Lady Marmalade")
2001: Is It Hot In Here Or Is It Just My Video? ("Lady Marmalade")
Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards
1997: Best Video by a Female - Rap/R&B ("Crush On You")
1999: Best Video by a Female - Rap/R&B ("Not Tonight (remix)")
Source Awards
2003: Female Artist of the Year
2003: Female Single of the Year "The Jumpoff"
Teen Choice Awards
2001: Choice Song of the Summer ("Lady Marmalade")
MOBO Awards
2003: Most Stylish Artist of the Year
Radio Music Awards
2001: Song of the Year Top 40 Pop Radio-"Lady Marmalade"
TMF Awards-Belgium
2001: Video of The Year-"Lady Marmalade"
TMF Awards-Netherlands
2001: Video of The Year-"Lady Marmalade"
ALMA Awards
2002: Outstanding Song- Motion Picture Soundtrack "Lady Marmalade"
ASCAP Music Awards
2002: Song of the Year-"Lady Marmalade"
MTV Japan Awards
2002: Best Choreography "Lady Marmalade"
MVPA Video Awards
2002: Best Styling In A Video-"Lady Marmalade"
VIBE Awards
2005: Album of the Year The Naked Truth (nominated)
BET Awards
2006: Best Female Hip-Hop Artist (nominated)
2008: Best Song "Let It Go" (nominated)
2010: Best Female Hip-Hop Artist (nominated)
American Music Awards
2003: Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
2005: Best Female Hip-Hop Artist (nominated)
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